wallace



(No Model.) sheets-sheen 1.

W; W. WALLACE ra R, c. PENFIELD.

Y I BRICK PRESS.

No. 548,935., l Patented Oct. 29, 1895:.

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- 4-SheetS-Sheet WALLACE &'R. G. PENFIELD.

` rZnz/,enolr Patented Oct. 29, 1895.

BRICK PRESS.

No. 548,935. 7i am (Nomoael.) Y 4sheets-Vshet W. W. WALLACE 8v R. C,P'ENFIELD.

BRICK PRESS.

Patented Oct. 29, 1895.

Ira/enfin n; mneoaeo Maw (No Model.) 4 sheetssheet 4.

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BRICK PRESS.

` No. 548,935. Patented oct. 29, 1895.

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ANDREW B BRHAM.FHOTO'UTHWASMINGTONAIIC UNITED lSrrn'rnsn PATENTl OFFICE.

WILLIAM W. WALLACE AND RAYMOND C. VPENFIELD, OF WILLOUGHBY, OHIO,ASSIGNORS TO J. W. PENFIELD t SON, OF SAME PLACE.

BRICK- PRESS.

SPECIFICATION forming part ofIietters Patent No. 548,935, dated October29, 1895.

Application filed September 28, 1893. Serial No. 486,721. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, WILLIAMW. WAL- LACE and RAYMOND C. PENFIELD, ofWilloughby, in the county of Lake and State of Ohio, have inventedycertain new and useful Improvements in Brick-Presses; and we do herebydeclare the following to bea full,'clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itpertains to make and use the same.

Our invention relates to improvements in brick-presses, more especiallywhat are known as dry-brick presses; and it consists in certain featuresof construction and in combination of parts hereinafter described, andpointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure lis a front side elevation of abrick-press embody-v ing our invention, portions being broken away andin section to more clearly show the construction. Fig. 2 is a right-handside elevation relative to Fig. l, partly broken away to more clearlyshow certain features in the construction.

Fig. 3 is an elevation in detail, partly in section, showing the meansemployed for adjusting the toggle-arms vertically and the means employedfor securing the same in the desired adjustment. is a front sideelevation of the feed-box and feed-hopper, showing, also, the means em;-

ployed for supporting said hopper; and Fig. 5

is a right-hand side elevation of the same,

Vlower plunger, as will hereinafter more fully appear. Fig. 8 is asection in detail on line 88, Fig. 7. Fig.'9 is atop plan in section online 9 9, Fig. 7.

The supporting structure of the machine comprises a base A and two heavyside frames V2B B,.rigidly mounted upon the base. -The side frames areprovided with suitable boxes that afford bearing, respectively, forshafts C, D, E, and F.

C designates the driving-shaft, (see Fig. 2,) that is supported at therear extremity of the supporting structure, said shaft being providedwithv a driving-pulley C. On shaft C (see FigfZ) is also operativelymounted a pinion C3, that meshes with a gear D on shaft D. A pinion D2is also operatively mounted upon shaft-D and meshes with a large gearE', operatively mounted upon shaft E. Shaft D is located a suitabledistance forward, but preferably in the same horizontal plane with thedriving-shaft, and shaft E is, of course, supported asuitable distanceabove and somewhat forward of shaft D. A cam E2 that op' crates themechanism for reciprocating the feed-box hereinafter described ismounted upon or rigid with gear E', and a cam E3, that operates themechanism 'for actuating the lower plunger hereinafter 'referred'to, isalso operatively mounted upon shaft E. Shaft F is located a suitabledistance above and somewhat forward of shaft E, and shaft F isoperatively connected with shaft E by means ofa pair of elliptic gearsf.

I represents the die or mold in which the material is compressed, saiddieor mold being suitablysupported from and between the uprightsid'eframes of the supporting structure.

K and L represent the upper and lowerplungers, respectively, the upperplunger IC being adapted to compress the material into the die or moldfrom above, and lower plun` ger` L being adapted to compress thematerial from below and elevate the pressed material yor bricks from thedie or moldflush with the top surfaces of the die or mold and table M,suitably supported in front of the die or mold. The plun gerscomprise,respectively, a series of heads lo @that are adapted to it therespective compartments of the die or mold, which it is not considerednecessary to illustratein detail. The upper plunger K is actuated bytoggle-arms N N', suitably connected with each other and operativelyconnected by means of a link f with the crank Fofcrankshaft F. The lowerend of the lower togglearm is suitably pivoted to the upper plunger, andthe upper end of the upper toggle-arm is IOO pivotally connected withvertically-movable side bars O O by means of the cam or eccentric shaftor rod P, (see Figs. l and 3,) the upper toggle-arm suitably embracingthe cam or eccentric portion P (see Fig. 3) of said shaft or rod. Saidshaft or rod is journaled in vertically-sliding boxes P2, adapted tomove up and downV in slots b in the side frames of the supportingstructure. Cap-plates Q are secured to the ends of cam or eccentricshaft or rod P, preferably by means of one or more bolts or screws Q,and are preferably keyed to the shaft or rod, as at Q2, said keysengaging opposing slots in the respective end of the shaft or rod andcap-plate, as shown very clearly in Figs. l and 3. 1

By the construction just described, it will be observed that cap-platesQ and the eccentric or cam shaft or rod to which they are secured mustturn together, and that by adjusting said shaft or rod circumferentiallythe toggle-arms are elevated or lowered as required in making thedifferent sizes of brick. Gaps Q are preferably provided with one ormore holes Qsgfor receiving a wrench or lever (not shown) for turningthe eccentric shaft or rod in adjusting the toggle-arms up or down.Cap-plates Q overlap the side bars O and are secured to the latter inthe desired adjustment of the cam or eccentric shaft, preferably bymeans of a bolt or screw Q4, the bolt-holes Q5 inthe cap-plates forreceiving bolts or screws Q4 being elongated concentric with the axis ofthe aforesaid shaft or rod to accommodate the aforesaid circumferentialadjustment of the shaft or rod, that is held in the desired adjustmentby tightening the bolts or screws Q4.

1f desired, suitable means (not shown) might also be employed forsecuring the lever (not shown) employed for turning said shaft or rod tothe adjacent side bar O, and thereby assist the bolts or screws thatsecure the cap-plates to the side members in holding the cam oreccentric shaft or rod in the desired adjustment.

, An important feature of ourinvention consists in the employment ofelliptic gears to establish operative connection between crankshaft Fand shaft E, and such an arrangement of the parts that -a very slowmovement is given to the upper plunger during the compression of thematerial in the die or mold by said plunger, and that said plunger iscaused to dwell or come to a short stand after the compression of thematerial by said plunger, and to move comparatively rapidly upon itsreturn stroke. By this construction and arrangement of parts the machinepossesses both great efficiency and capacity. Preferably there is alittle lost motion left between the pin that pivotally secures the upperplunger Vto the lower toggle-arm and its seat.

The front table M, as already indicated, receives the pressed bricks asthe latter are elcvated from Vthe die or mold, and from said table thebricks are supposed to be removed by hand. Another table Ris suitablysupported at the rear of the die or mold, the top surface of said reartable being liush with the top surfaces of the die or mold and forwardtable. On the rear table operates the reciprocating feed-box S, (seeFigs. 4 ,5, and 6,) and over this feed-box is suitably supported afeed-hopper T, that discharges into the feed-box.

The feed-hopper is preferably supported in the following manner: Therear table at opposite sides'has rigidly secured thereto two uprightbrackets r, respectively, (see Figs. 4 and 5,) said brackets beingslotted laterally, as at r', with the slots open at their upper ends,the upper portion of said slots being engaged by laterally-projectingears or lianges T on the feed-hopper. Brackets r are hanged laterally atthe lower end of slots o", as at r2, and said flanges are provided withvertical screw-threaded perforations for the reception of screw-threadedrods or studs r3, that extend upwardly through holes T2 in thelaterally-projecting members T of the feedhopper, a spring U beingconfined upon each stud or rod r3 between the lower side of thelaterally-projecting member T of the feedhopper and a nut r4, mountedupon the stud or rod a suitable distance below member T', and a spring Uis confined upon each rod or stud r3 between the upper side of saidlaterally-projecting member and a nut 35, mounted upon the stud or rod asuitable distance above said projecting member of the feed-hopper.

By the construction just described, it will be observed that the lowerset of springs U sustain the weight of the hopper, and that the upperset of springs U permit the hopper to rise in case of any hard substanceor obstruction finding ingress between the feed-box and lower edge ofthe hopper, and thereby relieve the hopper without doing any damage.

The feed-box has a series of compartments S', corresponding with thecompartments of the die or mold. The feed-box rests upon the rear tableand is adapted to be reciprocated upon said table, in under thefeed-hopper, preferably by the following-mechanism: V (see Figs. 2, 5,and 6) represents a rock-shaft suitably supported from the side framesof the supporting structure a suitable distance forward of shaft E. Saidrock-shaft bears a rock-arm V and a double rock-arm or rocking frame V2.The free end of arm V carries a roller V2, adapted to be engaged by camE2, and the free end of double rock-arm or frame V2 is operativelyconnected with the feed-box, preferably as shown in Figs. 5 and 6,wherein the feed-box has a cut-off plate S2, flush with the top surfaceof the box and eX- tendinga suitable distance rearwardly of the boxproper, the Afunction of said cut-otf being to retain the material inthe hopper during the time that the feed-box moves from under the hopperin supplying the die or mold. The cut-off of the feed-box carries ashaft S2, and a collar S4 is rigidly mounted upon each end of saidshaft, said collars extending beyond IOC IOC

IlC

thelends of the shaft, and the parts of the collars thus extendingbeyond the shaft ends are perforated laterally, as at S5, for thereception of links or rods S6, operatively connected with rock-arms orrocking frame V2. Links S6, at the end connected with collars S4, arescrewthreaded, and nuts S7 are mounted upon said screw-threaded portionof the links at either side of the collars, whereby said links are adjustable endwise.

The depth of the feed-box is such that it will hold ample material forthe bricks to be pressed at each operation of the machine. If there ismore material in the feed-box than is needed, the surplus is carriedback with the feed-box in under the hopper. The feed-box having receivedthe discharge from the-hopper, is thrust forward over the die or mold,where the material discharges into the die or mold by gravity, and asthe feed-box is thrust forward to deliver the material into the die ormold it pushes forward the bricks already pressed onto the table M,where they are supposed to be removed by hand or otherwise, the pressedbricks being elevated from the die or mold by the lower plunger.

The lower plunger, as already indicated, is adapted to elevate thebricks flush with the top surface of the mold, subject to the action ofthe front side of the feed-box, that pushes the bricks onto the fronttable. The mechanism employed for actuating the lower plunger ispreferably as shown in Figs. 2, 7, and S, and comprises a lever W, thatnear its longitudinal center has axialtrunnions W', j ournaled ineccentric-boxes vW2, suitably supported by the upright side frames ofthe supporting structure. Lever W is operatively connected with thelower plunger by means of a link or pitman lVS, and at its opposite endis provided with a roller W4, that. at the proper time is engaged by camE3, that actuates the lever to lift the lower plunger, resulting in theelevation of the bricksfrom the die or mold. Upon the disengagement lofsaid cam and lever, the latter reverses by gravity of the lower plunger.It will, of course, be understood that the axial trunnions of the lowerplunger must be adjusted with accuracy, so that the plunger, whenelevated, shall always be brought ush with the top surface of the die ormold; hence the employment of eccentric-boxes W2 for the trunnions oflever W aforesaid. Said boxes are cylindrical blocks of metal journaledin suitable holes in the side frames of the supporting structure, andthese blocks are bored eccentric with their axes to receive thetrunnions of the aforesaid lever. By turning these eccentric-boxes theaxis of the lever is raised or lowered to adjust the upward movement ofthe lower plunger. Said boxes have flanges W5, that overlap .the sideframes of the supporting structure, and said flanges have holes W6 inwhich a bar of metal or lever (not shown) can be inserted for turningthem. A screw orbolt Wsecures the boxes, respectively, to thesupporting-frame 4and holds the respective box in the desiredadjustment, the hole Ws in the flange W5 of the box for the passage ofsaid screw or bolt being elongated-concentrically with the axis of thebox to accommodate the circumferential adjustment of the box.

Side bars O are connected below with a heavy bar O', that. is arrangedtransversely of the machine. The parts are so arranged and timed thatwhile the upper plunger is beling thrust downwardly by the action of thetoggle-arms, the lower plunger engages the ltop side of transverse barO. The descent of the upper plunger in compressing the material in thedie or mold is limited by stops B', formed upon the inner side of theupright side frames of the supporting structure, and the arrangement ofparts is such that the upper plunger, during its descent, shall engagethe aforesaid stops before the toggle-arms are entirely straightened, orso that the further movement of the toggle-arms in the direction tostraighten shall, through the medium of the aforesaid side bars O, withwhich the upper toggle-arm is operatively connected, as hereinbeforedescribed, lift the aforesaid transversely-arranged bar O, and therebyelevate the lower plunger, so that the bricks shall be pressed partlyfrom below as well as partly from above, by means of 'which twopressures the compression of the bricks throughout will be more uniform,the parts being preferably so arranged and timed that the compression bytne lower plunger immediately follows the compression by the upperplunger, whereupon the lower plunger lifts the pressed bricks from thedie or mold subject to the action of the feed-box, that is thereuponactuated to remove or push the pressed bricks onto table M and tore-supply the die or mold.

a: (see Figs. 7 and 9) designates a lever having a forked rear end whereit is fulcrumed to eyebolts or', that connect with the supporting-base.This leverw has a transverse member x2, and upon the lever at the endsof member :r2 is seated a frame x3, that is provided with four uprightpins or members m4, suitably cushioned at their upper ends, as at m5,and the lower plunger is adapted to descend upon the elastic upperextremities of the aforesaid upright pins or members. To the forward endof lever a: are pivoted bolts Y, and these extend up loosely throughholes in a plate Y and are provided with nuts Y2, engaging said boltsabove the plate. Bearing upward against plate Y is a spring Z, that iscarried by a lower plate Z. This lower plate has a centrallylocatedscrewthreaded hole engagedv by a screw Z2, that is provided with ahand-wheel Z3 for turning the same. By turning screw Z2 in one directionor the other the lower plunger will be raised or lowered, as desired, togage the amount of material fed into the mold. Of course as soon as thepressure of the togglearms is applied spring Z is compressed and thelower plunger is forced down on member IIO O'. Screw Z2 is supported bya hollow bracket Z4, the rod of course having a suitable shoulder orequivalent to rest on the bracket. The cavity in this bracket forms a 5suitable case for spring Z. This spring mechanism just described ismerely to gage the vertical position of the lower plunger while thematerial is being fed in. In compressing bricks frorn dry material thepressto ure must be applied somewhat slowly to give the aira chance toescape; otherwise the brick would burst or crack when the pressure wasremoved. Hence this class of machines is i necessarily limited tocomparatively slow t' movements.

By means of the elliptic gears hereinbefore descrlbed a very slowmovement is given to the plungers While the heavier part of the i;pressure is being applied, and the plungers Ql are allowed to dwell fora little while after v compression; but during the time that the ipressure is not being applied the movement of the parts is comparativelyfast.

The advantage accruing from the use of z5 elliptic gears in the placeindicated is a large increase in the efficiency and capacity of themachine.

What we claim is- 1. In a brick-press, the combination with 3o thesupporting-structure comprising a base and two upright side-framesmounted a suitable interval apart upon 'the base, a die or mold suitablysupported from and between the side-frames, upper and lower plungers forcompressing the material in the die or mold and elevating the pressedbricks therefrom, respectively, of suitable mechanism for elevating andlowering the upper plunger, a tilting roller-bearing lever suitablysupported 4o between the aforesaid side-frames and operatively connectedwith the lower plunger, a rotating shaft suitably supported by saidsideframes and a cam on the shaft adapted to engage the roller of saidroller-bearing lever and thereby actuate the lever to cause the lowerplunger to be elevated, said lever having axial trunuions, saidtrunnions being journaled'in boxes supported in the aforesaidside-frames,

whereby the axis of the lever is elevated or Y lowered according as thejournal-boxes are turned in the one direction or the other, saidjournal-boxes having flanges overlapping the side-frames and screws orbolts extending through said flanges into the supportingframes, thescrew or bolt-holes in the anges being elongated to accommodate thecircumferential adjustment of the journal-boxes, substantially as setforth.

2. In a brick-machine, the combination of the supporting-structurecomprising a supporting-base and two upright side-frames located asuitable distance apart, a die or mold suitably supported from andbetween the sideframes, upper and lower pluugers for compressing thematerial within the die or mold, the lower plunger being adapted toelevate the bricks or compressed material from the die or mold,toggle-arms for actuating the upper plunger, two rotating shafts, Eand'F, a pair of elliptic gears establishing operative connectionbetween said shafts, suitable means for driving shaft E, suitablemechanism operatively connecting the toggle-arms with shaft F, suitablemechanism for actuating the lower plunger, a vertically-movablehorizontal bar or beam located below the lower plunger, links or barsoperatively connected with the upper toggle-arms and operativelyconnected with the aforesaid horizontal beam or bar, a stop for limitingthe downward movement of the upper plunger before the straightening ofthe toggle-arms, and the arrangement of parts being substantially asshown, for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof we sign this specilication, in the presence of twowitnesses, this 2d day of September, 1893.

WILLIAM WV. WALLACE;

RAYMOND C. PENFIELD. Witnesses:

C. I-I. DoRER, WARD HOOVER.

